By Sarah Carlson, Copy Editor

With the presidential election less than two weeks away, President George W. Bush and Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., are finalizing their campaigns and reiterating their stances on certain issues, Bush claiming experience and Kerry calling for a change. Here is a list of issues at the forefront of the election and where each candidate stands; it is compiled from cnn.com as well as each candidate’s campaign Web sites.

Health Care –

Bush – Favors improving current system over government-based system, allow citizens to own and control their own health care through health saving accounts, lower prescription drug costs.

Kerry – Wants government-based system funded by reversing tax cuts, lower family premiums on health care by up to $1,000 a year, lower prescription drug costs.

Social Security –

Bush – Supports allowing people to have the option to invest some Social Security taxes in stocks.

Kerry – Opposes privatizing Social Security.

Economy –

Bush – Provide $500 million for jobs for the 21st century to help educate and train workers in schools and community colleges, maintaining minimum wage by increasing education.

Kerry – Tax cuts to businesses, increasing minimum wage to $7 over years.

War in Iraq –

Bush – Authorized war because of weapons of mass destruction based on CIA intelligence, now says it was worth it to oust Saddam Hussein regime.

Kerry – Supported the war based on CIA intelligence Congress voted on, later said Bush misled nation, voted no for $87 billion to fund operations.

War on Terror –

Bush -Favors strong action against terrorists.

Kerry – Favors strong action against terrorists.

International Policy –

Bush – Initially opposed U.N. involvement in reconstruction of Iraq, wants a more unilateral policy, saying U.S. security should not be left to other nations; more than $1 billion proposed for reconstruction of Afghanistan; “Road Map” plan for peace process in Middle East.

Kerry – Involve other nations more in reconstruction of Iraq for a more multilateral policy working with the U.N. and NATO; boost international efforts to secure peace in Afghanistan, beat al Qaeda; improve social, economic, political conditions in Middle East.

Osama bin Laden –

Bush – Said in March 2002 he’s not concerned about bin Laden orchestrating an attack because he is in hiding.

Kerry – Bin Laden is the priority, would have made him so over Hussein.

Abortion –

Bush – Opposes except in cases of rape, incest or to save a woman’s life.

Kerry – Supports a woman’s right to an abortion; planning resources.

Gay Marriage –

Bush – Backs constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.

Kerry – Against same-sex marriage, backs benefits and rights for same-sex couples.

Gay adoption –

Bush – Opposes gay adoptions.

Kerry – Supports adoption by gay men, women.

Gays in the military –

Bush – Supports the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.

Kerry – Favors allowing gay men, women to serve openly in the military.

Stem Cell Research –

Bush – Opposes, but allowed limited funding from government for research on already existing lines of stem cells.

Kerry – Supports.

Hate crime legislation –

Bush – Opposes expanding federal law to cover sexual orientation.

Kerry – Expand federal legislation to include sexual orientation.

Death Penalty –

Bush – Supports.

Kerry – Opposes.

Patriot Act –

Bush – Supports.

Kerry – Backs letting act expire without congressional approval.

Tax Cuts –

Bush – Signed two tax-cut bills during term, probably more for middle class, working to make his tax cuts permanent.

Kerry – Repeal tax cuts for people making more than $200,000 a year enacted during Bush presidency; cuts for middle class; increase child tax credit.

Education –

Bush – Strengthen Head Start programs, promote literacy, provide $250 million annually to extend state assessment of student math and reading skills.

Kerry – Establish National Education Trust Fund to ensure schools get funding they need, back No Child Left Behind; “School’s Open ‘Til Six” program offering after-school opportunities for 3.5 million children; fully refundable College Opportunity Tax Credit on up to $4,000 on each year’s tuition.

Gun Control –

Bush – Protect gun makers from lawsuits, let ban on semiautomatic assault weapons expire.

Kerry – Close gun show loophole; require child safety locks, didn’t want ban on semiautomatic weapons to expire.

Environment –

Bush – Clear Skies Initiative to reduce power plant emissions, caps on emissions of Mercury, Farm Bill Conservation programs, favors opening Arctic refuge for gas and oil exploration, develop hydrogen-powered fuel cells for alternative fuel.

Kerry – Opposes oil exploration in Arctic refuge, reduce dependence on fossil fuels, push hybrid cars and hydrogen fuels.

Information compiled from www.cnn.com, www.johnkerry.com, www.georgewbush.com.

Information compiled by Sarah Carlson, Copy Editor